audiobook The Grand Strategy of Classical Sparta: The Persian Challenge (Yale Library of Military History) by Paul Anthony Rahe in History

Review

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful. Persia’s Great King; ordered them shown around his camps and ...By HistorianTwenty-five-hundred years ago the full military might the Persian Empire marched upon the weak and disunited city-states of Greece. Despite the humiliation suffered by Persian arms at Marathon; only a decade before; the world was not holding its breath in anticipation of the result. That the Persian forces was irresistible was clear to all; and the outcome therefore was undoubted. In fact; when Greek spies were caught observing the Persian encampments; Xerxes; Persia’s Great King; ordered them shown around his camps and sent back to Greece so as to spread word of the vast multitudes preparing to march.How the Greek city-states defeated and turned back the Persian menace remains one of the most incredible stories in the history of Western Civilization. Even today the battle narratives of Marathon; Thermopylae; Salamis; and Plataea are told and retold not just by historians; but remain staples of our popular culture. There are few teenagers who are unfamiliar with the refrain: “This is Sparta!”This is the story Professor Rahe undertakes to tell and he succeeds brilliantly. Rahe’s work is; simply put; the most comprehensive and best written history of the Greco-Persian wars in at least a generation.Any historian writing about this period by necessity has to rely to a large extent upon Herodotus. But the father of history has since Plutarch renamed him also been known as the “father of lies.” Rahe; a scholar deeply immersed in the period; also relies on Herodotus for the framework of his narrative; but he does so in a measured and judicious way. By employing the narratives of other ancient historians; playwrights; archeological findings; along with a large amount of common sense (often missing in historical analysis); Rahe unfolds a reconstruction of events that is certain to become the dominant interpretation of the period.As one can deduce from the book’s title Rahe also does something attempted by few if any previous historians; he eschews the Athenian-centric view of the Greco-Persian Wars to more closely examine this set of conflicts from the Spartan point of view. As such; even readers who believe they have a thorough knowledge of this great confrontation will benefit from Rahe’s unique viewpoint.The Grand Strategy of Classical Sparta; is the first of three volumes on the subject. In total; and assuming the next two volumes reach the same impressive level of scholarship and storytelling as the first; we will soon have a corpus of work that will stand beside the greatest historians of the classical period.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. this is a great and well written book by MrBy Jane L. FeltIf you wish to delve into this part of ancient history and become involved with the Sparta/Athens conflicts; this is a great and well written book by Mr. Rahe. I purchased this book while taking a course of this subject by Mr. Rahe. But; even if you decide to read this type of history without the additional lecture; it will provide you with many aspects of this period you would never be privy to any other way.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy John A. BrooksExcellent description of the Spartan culture.